Christopher Back (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I think I have learned all too late what you have to do to get questions on successive days, Mr President! My question is to the Minister for Defence, Senator Payne. I ask if the minister can advise the Senate how Australia's contribution to the Combined Maritime Forces in the Middle East is disrupting the funding streams of terrorist organisations?

Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Back for his long interest in this particular policy area. Australia is making a very significant contribution to maritime security in the Middle East through our contribution to the Combined Maritime Forces. Currently, the Anzac class frigate HMAS Aruntais deployed to the region as part of Operation Manitou and is helping to stem the flow of drugs and contraband through the waters of the region.

I can advise the Senate that the ship's company has so far in this deployment seized over 1.3 tonnes of drugs during this time. On 7 June, just last week, the crew seized 260 kilograms of heroin in the north Indian Ocean that was concealed inside a suspicious dhow. This is the third successful intercept of drugs during Arunta's current deployment. The ship's company made a 250 kilogram seizure of heroin in May and an 800 kilogram seizure of hashish in March. In April, I actually joined HMAS Aruntaduring her transit of the Strait of Hormuz. I was able to meet and thank the ship's company for their efforts.

The interception of these narcotics is very important to help deny the financial pathway that terrorists use to fund their activities in the Middle East and beyond. By preventing those drugs from reaching their destination, not only are we destroying their ability to raise funds and helping to create a more stable region while fostering trade and commerce but we are also protecting destination countries from the potential harmful impacts of these drugs. This isArunta's fourth deployment to the region. It is Australia's 64th rotation of a Royal Australian Navy vessel in the gulf since the first Gulf War in 1990. The men and women of the ship's company of HMAS Aruntaare extraordinarily proud of the work that they do—and so they should be.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Back, a supplementary question.

Christopher Back (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I had the privilege of farewelling Aruntafrom Stirling on behalf of Minister Payne on 13 November last year. I ask: can the minister advise the Senate how Navy personnel are contributing to the success of this important mission?

Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In fact, the success of these missions is due in no small part to the skill and the professionalism of the men and women who are embarked on our ships. When I met with the commander of the Combined Maritime Forces, United States Vice Admiral Kevin Donegan, in Bahrain in April, he described the skill of our boarding parties as amongst the most rigorous and meticulous of all of the nations contributing to the mission. During the most recent seizure that I alluded to in my previous response, the Royal Australian Navy personnel worked right throughout the night and in very difficult conditions to complete that seizure. The people who are running these drugs go to extraordinary lengths to conceal them. It is a great testament to the proficiency of the men and women of our Navy that they are able to identify these suspicious fishing dhows and then conduct an absolutely meticulous search in very tough conditions to find these significant hauls of drugs.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Back, a final supplementary question.

Christopher Back (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Can the minister update the Senate on how else Australia is contributing to maritime security in the Middle East region?

Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We are very strongly committed to the maritime security of the Middle East region, which is home, of course, to some of the world's most important shipping lanes. As I said,Arunta's deployment is the 64th rotation of a Royal Australian Navy vessel since 1990. It is actually the first time that we have deployed a ship to the Middle East on a nine-month rotation, which allows for a greater time on task. Aruntawill soon be relieved by HMAS Newcastle, which departed Sydney on Sunday to continue that longstanding support to maritime security in the Middle East.

As well as conducting counterterrorism operations, Australian vessels also contribute to countering piracy and to other security operations in the gulf. We also have Australian personnel embedded in the Combined Maritime Forces headquarters. Australia's contribution to the CMF, which is made up of 31 nations, supports that international community effort to promote stability and security across the Middle East. I want to acknowledge and thank the men and women of the ADF and their families for their efforts and for their service.